retailsails (95.49)

March 2010

3

The U.S. Department of Commerce released February retail sales this morning, reporting that sales rose an adjusted 0.3% from January and increased 4.1% (unadjusted) from the year-ago period. Analysts had expected the unseasonably cold weather and severe snowstorms across the East Coast to impact performance, but it appears spending held up relatively well. This was the fourth consecutive year-on-year gain after 15 straight monthly declines: [more]

Recs

7

Even as business in the U.S. has stagnated over the past few months as consumers continue to struggle with unemployment and personal finances, strong international growth has driven McDonald’s to report an incredible 82 consecutive months of same-store sales gains. [more]

Recs

3

Despite unseasonably cold temperatures nation-wide and record snowstorms across the Northeast, retailers managed to post another month of solid same-store sales gains in February. While typically one of the lightest months of the year in terms of volume, and no doubt in large part due to extremely easy comparisons to a year ago, February’s strong performance nonetheless suggests consumer spending is gaining momentum off of depressed levels. [more]

Recs

5

Several retailers we follow reported February same-store sales this morning, and another 25 or so will release results tomorrow morning. After 12 straight monthly declines, retailers have posted 5 consecutive monthly gains and we expect that momentum to continue for February. [more]